ADVANCED LIQUID PARAFFINS SYNTHESIS

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DEM - Demonstration contracts

Ziel

Aim of the project is the demonstration of the suitability of a Fischer-Tropsch technology for the economical chemical conversion of natural gas into cleaner and more easily transportable fuels with higher energy density.This objective will be achieved on an experimental basis building and running a demonstration plant for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis section (syngas to heavy paraffins/hydrocarbons products)Innovative parts of the project stand in the field of catalyst formulation, slurry reactor design, catalyst separation and process scheme.The energy and cost saving expected comparing the use of the new technology with a conventional one is respectively about 246 TOE/Y and 116 Million Lit and the payback time is 4 years.

Since syngas generation technology and heavy paraffins upgrading technology are commercially available, the aim will be achieved on an experimental basis building and running a demonstration plant for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis section (syngas to heavy paraffins/hydrocarbon products).Heavy linear paraffins can be produced by reaction of CO and H2 on a catalyst, at high temperature and pressure, giving water as by-product : nCO + (2n+1)H2 = CnH2n+2 + nH2OOther undersided by-products, as oxygenated hydrocarbon compounds, can be generated by the process.A new catalyst was found out suitable to minimize the oxygenated and maximize the molecular weight of paraffins. A new design of slurry bubble column reactor was patented, suitable to maximize yield and productivity, jointly with an accurate temperature control to assure a high quality of waxes. In fact the reaction is highly exothermic and a large amount of medium pressure steam is generated.A separation system of the catalyst from the liquid waxes was also designed.The catalyst will be suspended in the liquid paraffin, while the mixture of two reagents, CO and H2, is fed through the bottom of the reactor by a gas distributor of a special design. A proprietary arrangement of cooling equipments will guanrantee an optimal temperature control.The energy cost saving expected comparing the use of the new technology with a fixed bed conventional process is about 116 Million Lit/y according to the following assumptions:D = Conventional fixed bed process - innovative slurry processD Electric power :(2740-2740)kWh/d x 333 d/y x 130 Lit/kWh = 0.0 Million Lit/yD Fuel gas : (8280 Nm³/d x 333 d/y x 80 Lit/Nm³)-(5520 Nm³/d x 333 d/y x 100 Lit/Nm³) =36.8 Million Lit/yTo be noted that the fuel gas calorific value for the slurry process is 1.25 times higher than for the conventional one, so its price is considered 1.25 times higherD Wax : [(-15)-(-20)] barrel/d x 333 d/y x 48000 Lit/barrel = 79.9 Million Lit